‘Killer’ of online cab driver arrested

Suspect shot young driver during an attempted car-snatching, says police

KARACHI:

Police have taken into custody the suspected murderer of an online taxi driver of Hyderabad and recovered the weapon used in the crime. According to the police, the suspect shot the young driver, Shahzeb, dead during an attempted car-snatching.

Shahzeb, a 28-year-old online cabby and son of Muhammad Riaz Ansari, a resident of Hyderabad, was killed near Scheme 33 Sumaira Chowk, close to Hashimabad Society within the jurisdiction of Sachal police station on the night of Nov 9. Shahzeb’s body was discovered at a distance from his vehicle. According to investigators, Shahzeb provided a ride from Hyderabad to Korangi Crossing in Karachi.

Throughout the evening, Shahzeb’s father maintained regular contact, tracking the vehicle’s location through the installed tracker. Initially, Shahzeb informed his father that he had dropped off the passenger near Korangi Crossing. Later that evening, he mentioned picking up another ride near Gulzar-e-Hijri in Scheme 33. Shahzeb’s father, after prayers, rechecked the vehicle’s location and found it to be suspicious.

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Attempts to contact his son proved futile, prompting Shahzeb’s father to involve the tracking company. Concerned relatives, along with police, were sent to the car location. It was discovered that Shahzeb had been shot in the head by unknown assailants near Sumaira Chowk. Sachal police lodged a murder case on the complaint of the deceased’s father, and launched an investigation.

The DIG and SSP East formed a special team to arrest the suspected murderer. In a recent joint operation, police and the investigation unit arrested Abdul Samad, a key figure in Shahzeb’s murder, and recovered the weapon used in the crime. The arrest was made with the help of technical equipment, CCTV footage, and the car tracker company.

According to Aurangzeb Khattak, SHO Sachal police station, the arrested suspect, Abdul Samad, had booked Shahzeb’s car online. Upon reaching Sumaira Chowk from Scheme 33 Punjabi Saudagran Society, Samad brandished a pistol, threatening Shahzeb to pull up at a roadside. Soon afterwards, Shahzeb was shot in the neck.